Steam veneer drier



April 6 1926. 1,579,994

J. T. ATKINSON ET AL STEAM VENEER DRIER Filed May 22. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Joa INVENTORS L ffii/zins 0M y Wg April 6 1926.

J. T. ATKINSON ET AL STEAM VENEER DRIER Filed May 22, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 W ATTORNEY.

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Patented Apr. y6, 192.6.V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOSEPH T. ATKINSON AND MILTON A. THRASHER, OF COTTON `PLANT, ARKANSAS.

STEAM VENEER DRIER.

Application filed May 22, 1925. Serial No. 32,083.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, Josnrrr T. ATKIN- soN and MILTON A. THRi-xsHER, citizens of the United States,residing at Cotton Plant, in the county of lVoodrulf and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam .Veneer Driers, of which the following is a specification.

lThis invention relates to a drier designed4 primarily for drying and straightening strips of wood veneer and other thin pieces of lumber, but it is to be understood that a drier, in accordance4 with this invention, can be employed for anyV purposes for which it is found applicable, and the' invention-has respect to both faces of the strip of wood veneer or other thin lumber without -liability of damage to the latter by leakage from the conducting mean'sfor the'heating medium.V v Y A further object of the invent-ion. is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a drier for the purpose referred to including shield elements between which the veneer passes, and which act to prevent the bursting, cracking, bending or warping of the veneer as it passes through the drier and under such conditions preventing choking p of the drier during the operation of drying. Y

A further object of t-he invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a drier provided with spaced pairs of shield elements and conveying means arranged forwardly and rearwardly withlrespect to each pair of shields for ezpeditiously conveying thel veneer between the shields. f

A further object'of the invention to provide, in a manner as hereinafter-set forth, a drierincluding spaced pairs ofcoupair of superposed conveying rolls and with the upper rolls of each pair capable of being, removed when occasion requires. n

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a drier formed with superposed sets of pairs of veneer conveying elements, each pair arranged in superposedrelation and with the pairs of each set arranged in spaced relation and further with means for simultaneously driving the lower element of each of the pairs of elements to expedite the simultaneous passage of a plurality of superposed veneers through the machine for drying them.

kFurther objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafterr set forth, a drier which is comparatively simple in its' construction and arrangement, strong, durable, thoroughly eliicient and convenient in its use, readily set up, and comparatively inexpensive kto manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to whichcome with-` in the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In 'the drawingsl wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure l is a side view of ,a driver or a drier unit, in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a view looking towards the other side o-f a drier or drierunit, in 'accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig-` ure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 1-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure il. y y

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6, Figure 5. Y .Y y f Figure 7 is a perspectiveview of a pair of opposed shield elements anda fragmentary v'portion of the heat conducting means associated with said pair ofelenients.

iff)

Vthe hold-fast devices 21.

a modified form of heat conducting means.

Figure 9 is a` section on line 9-9, Figure 5.

A drier for the purpose set forth and in accordance with this invcntion, can consistV solely of a unit as disclosed in Figures l and 2, or a plurality of such units arranged 'one rearii-'ardly of the other and coupled together. rl`he drier or uiiitas shown in 1F igures 1 and 2 can consist of four or more 1superposed sets off' pairs `of conveying elicments. rl'lie number olf pairs of conveying elements of each set can bethree 'or more Vand with each pair of superposed conveying 'elements there is associateda pair Iof superposed shield elements, each carrying on its outer face. a heat conducting means. By way of example, the drier is illustrated as consisting of four superp'osed sets 'of pairs of Conveying elements and foursets of pairs of shield elements with their associated heat vconducting means, but as before stated, the

Vsetsrefer-red to can be increased ifdesired.

A drier, in 'accordance with this invention,

comprises a skeleton body portion formed of a pair of opposed spaced base mei'nbers or bars l, 2, and a pair of opposed spaced top members lor bars 3, Z1@ The member-s1 to #l inclusive are of the desired length vand seated on 'the top and bearing against-the outer side `of lthe member 1 is a series of spaced side members or bar 5, G, 'Tand '8. The members Vor bars 5 to 8 inclusive abut against the lower face of and against the youter side of the member or bar 3. The hold-fast ydevices i) are employed for securingl the lower yends 'of the bars or members 5 to s to the member or bar l, and hold-fast devices 10 are employed for securing the upper ends of the members or bars 5 to 8 inclusive to the member or bar Mounted on the top ofthe bar 2 and engaging the outer side thereof, is a series of spaced side members or bars 411, 12, 13 and '111, and which abut against the lower face and outer side of the bar or member Hold-fast devicesl lare employed for securing the lower ends of the .members or bars 11 to 14 inclusive to the niemeer or bar 2, and hold-fast devices 16 are en'iployed for securing the upper ends of the bars or membersll to 1s*- inclusive to bar 7 opposes the side member or bar 12. The -side member or bar 6 opposes the side member or bar 13, and the side member or lbar 5 opposes the side member or bar 1st.

'i-ngl. Each of the side members or bars 12, 13 and V111 is formed with four bayonetshaped slots, indicated at 32, 33, Si anc 35 and wh-ich are spaced `equidistant from each other Vand 'preferably 'open -at the rear e l'ge of the side member or bar. The vertical legs of the slots 32 to inclusive are a'r ran-ged in alignment with the Islots 27 to 230 inclusive. Each of the side members Vv12 to 1 4 inclusive, below the vertical leg of leach bayonetfsliajped slot formed therein, is provided with a circular opening 3G, arranged in close proximity to the Ilower end of said vertical leg. y

JArrange-d between the si'de members or bars 1l to 121 inclusive, as well as being secured bars, as well 'ais being secured to the opposed edges lof said bars and spaced from and belo'w the coupling elements 3S, 'are coupling' clement-s 39. Arranged between the side bars 11 tfo lil inclusive, as well as being secured tothe opposed edges of said bars and spaced from and arranged below the coupling elements 39, are coupling elements 4:0, and arranged between the said bars and secured to the opposed edges thereof, as well as spaced from and below the 'coupling element-s 40, are coupling elem-ents Ll1. Arranged below and spaced from the coupling elements -1-1I and further between the side bars, as well as being secured to the edges thereof, are coupling elements 42, and positioned below the 'couplingelements 42 and secured to the opposed vedges of the side bars are coupling' elements 43. Arranged between the sid-f: bars 1l to le inclusive and below the coupling elements 43, a's Awell as being secured to the opposed 'edges `of said bars, are coupling elements 114. I

Supported by the side bar 8, is a seriez-3 .of siipe'rposed spaced shafts 50, as shown foin' iii'number and 'each of which carries a driven cog pinion 5 1 anda driven sprocket 52vope`rated by' a chain drive 53 from a. drivingshaft 547.

Supported bythe side members or bars 5,

6, 7, 12,'1'3a1'id lierre the superposed 'sets of pairs otconveying elements.` As illustrated four setsv are employed, and the conveying elements of eachof the pairs of each set are arranged in superposed relation. The conveying elements of each pair of one set are indicated at 51, 52, of another 4set at 53, 54, of another set kat 55, 56 andofthe other set at 57, 58. One pair ot conveying elements or each of the sets is supported by the side bars 7 and 12. l One pair of each of the conveying elementsof each of the sets is supportedby the side vbars 6 and 13, and one pair of each of the conveying elements ot each ot the sets is supported by the side bars 5 and 14. The'upper conveying element of eachpair ot "cachot the sets is provided with a pair of oppositely extending spindles 59, 66, more clearly shown in Figure 5, and the spindle 59 is mounted in the vertical leg of a bayonet-shaped slot, and the spindle 60 extends through an oval-shaped slot and is provided with a pinion 60., This arrangement provides for the removing of the upper conveying element of a pair when occasionrequires and when the pinion 60 is taken od.. Each of the conveying elements ot each pair is in the form of aroll andthe lower conveying element of each pair is pro vided with'a pair of oppositely extending spindles 61, 62 and with the former of greater length than the latter. The spindle 62 extends through an opening 36 and is provided with a pinion 62 lwhich meshes with a pinion 60. The spindle 61 extends through an opening 31 and projects a substantial distance fro-ma side member or bar and'4 is provided with a sprocket pinion 63. The conveying elements of a set are simultaneously operated by an independent endless chain 64A engaging with the sprocket pinions 63 carriedb'yfthe spindles 61 of a set and driven by the pinions` 51 on ashatt 50. The shafts 541 are operated by a prime mover,not shown, and said shafts 50 can be simultaneously or independently operated so that vthe sets can be simultaneously or independently operated. N j

Arranged within the body portion is a series ot superposed sets of pairs of combined shield and guide elements,.each of the elements of each pair consisting of a 'rectangular metallic plate. The plates of each pair,` are arranged in superposed spaced relation and the plates of each pair are indicated at 69, 70, see Figure 7. The superposed sets ot combined shield and guide elements are indicated generally :by the reference characters 71, 72, 73, and 7 4, see Figure 3. The number of sets corresponds tothe number .of sets of pairs of conveying elements.y Each pair of combined shield and guide elements is arranged forwardly and rearwardly of a pair of conveying elements. .With reference to'Figure 7, lthe plates 69 and 7 Ol of each .set are suspended in spaced Y95, to one end rof the body portion. elbow couplings are arranged between ythe the medium of a vpair of steam conductingv pipes, and with reterence'to Figure 3 the pairs of steam conducting pipes associated with the set 71 are indicated at 75, 76, with the set 72 at 77, 78, with the set 73 at 79, 8O and with the set 7st at 81,82. The steam conducting pipes heat the plates 69 and 7 0 so that as the veneer passes bet-Ween said plates and is transported thro-ugh the medium of the conveying elements, theveneer will be dried and at the same time guided in itspa'ssage between the plates. The steam conducting pipes are arranged against the upper face ofthe upper plate and against the lower' tace oi the lower plate. A steam supply line leading from a suitable source is indicated at'83 and which has one end normal-ly closed, as at 84, but such closure can be removed so that the line can be connected to the heating medium conductors 'of an adjacent unit. Leading fromfthe line 83 to each pipe 7 5 is a branch pipe y85 for supplying steam to the latter. The upper steam conducting pipes are secure-d to the `upper plate 69 by a pair of coupling members 86, and the lower steam conducting pipes are secured'to the lower plate70 by a pair of coupling membersv 87, rsee Figure 7. The upper and lower steam conducting pipes are of greater length ythan the upper and lower plates 69 and 70 and said pipes project :trom each end of said plates.

, Each of the pipes`75 is connected to' a pipe 76 by an` elbow coupling 88, which is anchored, as at 89 to one end of the body portion.,` Each of the pipes 77 is connected f to va pipe 78 by an elbow coupling 90, anchored as at 91 tovone end of the body portion. Each of the pipes 79 is connected to a pipe 80 by an elbow coupling 92, anchored as at 93 to'one end of the body portion, and each of the pipes 81 is connected to a pipe 82by an elbow coupling 94, anchored, asat The vside, members or bars 5, 6, 7 and 8. The anchoring means torthe elbow couplings are connected to the brace members 17, 18, 19 and 20.

The steam conducting pipes project out- `wardlv between the side members or bars 11,

12, 13 and. 14: and with the projecting ends of the pipes 75 communicatethe branch ipes 85. The projectingends of the'pipes r6' are lconnected to the project-ing ends of the pipes 77 by vertically disposed branch (8 are connected to the projecting ends of the pipes 79 by vertical branch'pipes 97. The projecting ends ofthe pipes 89 are connected to theprojecting endsof the pipes 81 by ver'- tical branch pipes 98, and projecting ends ot the pipes'82 areconnected .toa discharge pipe 99,by vertical branclrpipes 100. The.

ioo

oipes 96. The projecting ends of the pipes arrangement of the Ysteam supply line with respect to theA steam conducting pipes and. the arrangement of these latter with respect to the elbow couplingsand vertical branch pipes, and the arrangement of the vertical branch pipes 100 with respect to the discharge pipe 99 provides for a circulation of the steam as well as for the discharge of the condensates. f

The. pipes 75 are secured to the coupling` elements 37,the pipes 76 to the coupling elements 38, the pipes 7T to the coupling ele-V ments 3 9, the pipes 78 to the ,coupling elements 40. pipes 79 to the coupling elements 41, the pipesSO to the coupling elements 42,

the pipes 81 to the coupling elements 43, and the pipes 82 to the coupling elements 44.. rlhe anchoring means for the elbow couplings and the coupling,r elements provide means for not only supporting the pairs of steam ,conducting pipes in spaced relation, but also for securing' said pipes to thebody portion of the drier.

With reference. to Figure 8, two pairs of steam conducting' pipes are employed for heating each pair of combined shield and `guide elements and in Figure 8, 101 and 102 indicate the metallic rectangular plates forming' the pair of combined shield and guide elements. Secured to the upper face of the plate 101, by a pair of coupling members 103 is one of a pair of superposed parallel steam conducting pipes 104, 1.05, connected at one end by an elbow coupling 106. The other end of the pipe 105 has communieatingtherewith abranch pipe 107, which leads from` an upper steam conducting pipe. Secured to the lower face ofthe plate 102, by a pair of coupling members 108, is one of a pair of superposed parallel steam conducting' pipes 109, 110. The pipes 109, 110 are connected together at oneend by an elbow coupling 111. The pipe 110, at its other end, is provided with a depending branch 112 which leads to an upper steam conducting pipe. r1lb-e pipe 104 is connected to the pipe 109 by an elbow coupling 113. The couplings 106 and 111 are anchored to the body portion of the machine and the pipes 104, 105, 109 and 110 are secured to the coupling elements which are arranged between the side members o r bars v11 to 14 of the body portion.V

The bars 5 and 14, see Figure 9, are bevelledlengthwise, as indicated at 113 to overcome sharp inner corners on said bars to prevent the veneer from hanging during the travel thereof. i

"The condensed steam is constantly drained from thesteam conductingW pipe 7K5 to the dilscharge pipe 99 .from .where it is conducted O i f "lie ee-.rte @t te@ drier are detechebly @0nliccted together so ,that it can be readily ievaeee The pairs et combined shield and. guide elements i' preventv ythe `veneer` from bucking .and choling'the machine when the' veneeris conveyed through the drier by the pairs of conveying elements. rl-he arrangement shown in VFigure 7 is employed when the amount of heat necessary to dry the veneer is not so great, but when a greater amount of heat is desired, the arrangement shown in Figure 8 is employed. i

Owinglto the manner of setting up the steam conducting` pipes leakage is prevented on the yveneer Iduring the travel thereof through the drier. Owing to the manner in whichthe steam conducting pipes are set up, itY one bursts it can be conveniently removed anda new one substituted without dismantling lthe entire heat conducting system.

The number of pairs of conveying elements ofieach set can be increased or diminished and the number of pairs of combinedshield and guide elements of each set will ycorrespond to the number of pairs of conveying? elements of each set and the showing of buty three pairs of conveying elements is had merely by way of example, as it is obvious the'length of the drier can be as desired by increasing the number of pairs of conveyingA elements of a set and when increased'the number of pairs of steam conducting pipes will be correspondingly increased. It is also obvious that the number of sets of pairs of conveying elements, as well as the sets of pairs of combined shield and zguide elements vcan be increased or diminished from that as shown.

' The steam supply line 83 can be provided with a valve controlling' means as is obvious.

As before stated, the upper conveying roller or element of yeach lpair can be conveniently removed from the body portion of the machine when`occasion requires, and as illustrated the pairs of conveying elements are journalled in the side members or bars of the machine.

y The plates 69 and '70 are firmly fastened to the steam conducting,- pipes and between each pair of plates the veneer passes. The upper plates 69 are arranged just behind an upper conveying roller in advance and in front of an upper conveying roller in the. rear, and the same arrangement oic the lower plate 7.0 is had with respect to the lower conveying rollers or elements, and the foregoing arrangement is continued throughont the'drier and the plates G9 and 70 act toi'prevent the bursting, cracking, bending or warping of the veneer as it passes through the drier, andmunde'r such conditions prevents anyl possibility'of the drier'tiom choking upto `overcome retardationwith respect tothe passage of the' veneer.

" ,It is thought that the many advantages etwa drien -infY accordance with tliS-inven tiet; te? .sie terrasse?? es@ dislikes@ be Y readily understood, and althoughv the preferred embodiment of the'invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be'had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

`What we Vclaim is 1. A drier comprisinga plurality of superposed sets of opposed pairs of material conveying rolls, the rolls of each pair arranged in superposed relation, a plurality of superposedV sets of opposed pairs of combined shield and guide ele-- ments for the material, the elements lof each pair arranged in superposed relation and positioned between two pair of conveying rolls of each set, and upper and lower spaced steam conducting pipes connected to and arranged eXteriorly of reach'pair of elements :tor suspending them in spaced relation and further for heating them to set up a drying action on the conveyed material.

2. A drier comprising a set of opposed pairs of conveying rolls, the rolls of each pair arranged in superposed relation, a set of opposed pairs of combined shield and guide elements for the material, the elements of each pair arranged in superposed relation, each pair of elements arranged between two pair of conveying rolls, and spaced steam conducting pipes extending lengthwise of and connected with the outer faces of each pair of elements fon suspending them 1n superposed spaced' relation and fur ther for heating them to set up a'drying action on the material.

3. A drier comprising a super osed set of opposed pairs of conveying rol s, the rolls of each pair arranged in superposed relation, a set of opposed pairs of combined shield and guide elements for the material, the elements of each pair arranged in superposed relation, each pair of elements arranged between two pair of conveying rolls, upper and lower spaced'steam conducting pipes connected to and arranged exteriorly of each pair of elements for suspending them in superposed spaced relation and further for heating them to set up a drying action on the material, and supports for said rolls, said supports provided with means to permit of the removal of the upper roll of each pair of rolls.

4. A drier comprising a set of opposed pairs of conveying rolls, the rolls of each pair arran ed in superposed relation, a set of oppose pairs of combined shield and guide elements for the material, the elements of each pair arranged in' superposed relation, each pair of elements arranged between two pair of conveying rolls, spaced steam conducting pipes extending lengthwise of and connected with the outer faces of each pair of elements for suspending them in superposed spaced relation and further for Ta l each pair of elements arranged between two n pair of conveying rolls, spaced steam conducting pipes extending lengthwise of and l' connected with the outer faces of each pair of elements for suspending them in superposed spaced relation and'further for heating ythcm'to setup a drying action on the material, supports, for vsaid rolls, said supports provided with means to permit of the removal of the upper roll of each pair of rolls, and means common to and engaging with the lower rolls of said pairs oi'rolls for simultaneously koperating them.

6. A drier comprising a plurality of supery posed sets of opposed pairs of material conveying rolls, the rolls of each pair arranged in superposed relation, aplurality of superposed sets of opposed pairs of combined shield and guide elements for the material, the elements of each pair arranged in superposed relation and positioned between two pair of vconveying rolls of each set, upper and lower spaced steam conducting pipes connected to and arranged eXteriorly of each pair of elements for suspending them in spaced relation and further for kheating` them to set up a drying action on the conveyed materiaL'a-nd means common to and engaging with the lower rolls of said pairs of rolls for simultaneously operating them. Y 7 In a drier a plurality of opposed and spaced pairs of rectangular plates comprising means for shielding and guiding the material operated upon and `further capable of being heated for drying such material, heat conducting means secured to the plates of each pair for supporting them in spaced superposed relation and further for heating the same, and means arranged forwardly and f rearwardly with respect to each pair of plates for conveying the material to be operated on through the said pairs of plates.

8. In a drier aA plurality of opposed and spaced pairs of rectangular plates comprising means for shielding and guiding the material operated upon and further capable of being heated for ydrying such material,

heat conducting means secured to the plates of each pair for supporting them in spaced superposed relation and further for heating the same, and superposed pairs ofrconveying rolls arranged forwardly and rearwardly with respect to each pair of plates for conveying the material operated on through each pair of plates.

9. In a drier a pliirality of opposed and spaced pairs 'of rectangular plates comprising means for shielding and guiding the material operated upon .and further capable 'of being heated for drying such material, heat conducting means secrured to the plates of eacli pair 'of supporting them in spaced su perposed relation and further for lieatingi,v the same. su-perpos'ed pairso'f conveying rolls arrai'iged forwardly and rearwardly with respect to each pair of plates7 YJfor conveying the materialoperatedon through each pair of plates, and means for simultaneosly operating the rolls of each pair for conveying the material. l

l0. In a drier a plurality of opposed and spaced pairs of rectangular plates comprising means for shielding and guiding the ma terial operated upon and further capable of being heated lor drying such material, heat condacting means secured to the plates of each pair for support-ing them in spaced Supeipos'ed relation and further for heating the same, superposed pairs of conveying rolls arranged forwardly a-nd rearwardly with respect to each pair of plates for conveying the material operated on through each pair of plates, means for simultaneously operating the rolls of each pair for conveying the material, and supports for said rolls, said support-s provided with means to permit of the removal of the upper roll of each pair.

In testimony whereof, We affix our signatures hereto.

JOSEPH T. ATKINSON. MILTON A. THRASHER. 

